After nearly 3 years of planning and renovations, the Greater Plymouth
Performing Arts Center, Inc. (GPPAC), a non-profit organization supporting the
region’s performing arts community, announces the long awaited Gala Grand
Opening Events Series of The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court
Street, Plymouth. A 2-month long celebration kicks off with a Community
Open House on Saturday, April 5; a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Gala
Variety Show and reception on Friday, April 11; folk-pop duo The Sea
The Sea on Saturday, April 12; local singer-songwriter Hayley
Sabella CD release concert on Friday, April 18; a Celebrity Benefit
Concert featuring nationally renowned baritone Andrew Garland and
pianist Warren Jones on Friday, May 16; children’s singer/songwriter
The Stacey Peasley Band on Sunday, May 18; wrapping up with the
premiere of Plymouth’s first ever Jazz Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 24
and 25.
“Together, with the support of
the Plymouth community, town officials, and generous arts supporters, we have
made a dream come true for the region,” says Robert Hollis, president of GPPAC’s
board of directors, “this is a celebration not only of the vibrant arts mecca
that Plymouth has become, but also of a supportive community that has ensured
our success.”
GPPAC was founded in 2010 as
the foundation to accomplish a mission: to launch a performing arts center to
serve the Greater Plymouth region. The active organization spent several years
in search of the perfect venue for their plan, which was discovered in the
dormant Congregation Beth Jacob’s community center, formerly a Methodist church,
across from the 1820 Courthouse in downtown Plymouth, built in 1886. In
October, 2012 the Plymouth Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to appropriate
$650K in Community Preservation Funds to acquire and renovate the building at 25
1/2 Court Street in downtown Plymouth. The Town of Plymouth has graciously
entrusted GPPAC with the building, now widely known as “The Spire”, with a 100
year near free-lease of their treasured property. GPPAC supports the commitment
of the Community Preservation Committee in ensuring the facility’s preservation
for future generations.
The Spire’s 3-story, 225-seat
impressive performance hall and a custom built stage, boasts tremendous
acoustics, sightlines, and an architecturally beautiful interior as its
trademark. An adjacent reception room, studio spaces and resident Seasound
Recording Studios makes the venue an attractive musical and theatrical
destination and resource. Plymouth Community Theatre takes up residence this
spring as the house theatrical organization, broadening the spectrum of their
production opportunities.
Grand opening celebrations kick
off with a Community Open House on Saturday, April 5 from 11 am to 2
pm. The public is welcome to enjoy guided tours of the facility, peruse
membership, sponsorship and view the full entertainment calendar in store for
the opening season, admission is free.
The cornerstone event of the
celebration series, a Gala Variety Show will be held on Friday, April
11. At 7 pm, public officials, members of the community and VIP guests will
gather for an official ribbon cutting ceremony at The Spire’s front entrance.
At 7:30 pm, the Gala Variety Show hosts short acts of all performing arts genres
that represent The Spire’s vibrant entertainment lineup, including the
Johnny Souza Trio, Bay Colony Shakespeare Company, Plymouth Community
Theatre, comedy acts, singer/songwriters Mark Whitaker, Haley
Sabella, and Jake Hill and Deep Creek
Band.
On Saturday, April 12, 8 pm,
Folk-pop duo The Sea The Sea, featuring vocal artists Chuck E. Costa
and Mira Stanley, recently release their debut full length album Love We Are
We Love. The Sea The Sea blends vocals with acoustic/electric
guitars, banjo, ukulele, piano, and percussion. Smooth, intricate harmonies
weave an unmistakable, magnetic sound, reminiscent of Simon &
Garfunkel.
On Friday, April 18, 8 pm,
local rising folk/pop/indie star Hayley Sabella launches her latest
singer/songwriter CD in concert. A popular local artist hailing from Plymouth,
Sabella was recently described as “the music that makes me happy” in a Red Line
Roots review, admiring how “the orbiting of Hayley’s voice creates a sort of
sonic cage which finally frees you”.
On Friday, May 16, 7:30 pm The
Spire hosts their premiere Benefit Concert featuring a program first
produced as part of Carnegie Hall’s Neighborhood Concert series. Locally grown,
nationally renowned baritone Andrew Garland performs with legendary pianist
Warren Jones featuring a diverse program of works including Ralph Vaughn
Willams’ Songs of Travel, eclectic selections by Franz Schubert,
Ravel’s Don Quichotte à Dulcinée, Steven Mark Kohns selections from
American Folk Set, and Mitch Leigh’s The Impossible Dream from
Man of La Mancha. Widely acclaimed for sparkling, exhilarating
performances, Andrew Garland launched his career as a student from Kingston,
successfully rising to national recognition today. Hailed by the San
Francisco Chronicle as “the single finest accompanist now working,” pianist
Warren Jones is a renowned performer, prominent teacher, collaborative pianist,
and chamber musician, performing in concerts festivals around the world,
previously having served as assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera and
San Francisco Opera.
On Sunday, May 18, 2 pm,
critically-acclaimed children’s “kindie” act The Stacey Peasley Band
brings their signature pop/rock/soul style to the stage. This singer/songwriter
and her band offers original tunes from a melting pot of genres including
classic rock, pop, disco and oldies. Their second family music album Lucky
Day is a tribute to quintessential songs that capture real-life family
experiences, such as “Summer Day”, “Catching Joy” and pop/rock anthem “Little
Soccer Player”, delivering what’s hot on today’s family
forefront.
Wrapping up the grand opening
series, The Spire premieres Plymouth’s first-ever annual Plymouth Rock
Assurance Jazz Festival, hosted by by local jazz trumpet legend Johnny
Souza. On Saturday, May 24 at 7:30 pm, headline act The Rebecca Parris
Trio performs in concert, along with Berklee-based group The Bebop
Guitars and The Johnny Souza Quintet. On Sunday, May 25 at 2:30
pm, high energy jazz act Kubota Power Jazz Unit, the Greg Abate
Quartet and The Amanda Carr Quintet appear, featuring interviews
and live performances. Several partner social and reception events are in the
works with local companies and restaurants. The Plymouth Rock
Assurance Jazz Festival has been made possible through the
generous sponsorship of Plymouth Rock Assurance Company, and sponsorship of
Eastern Bank.
Tickets for the Gala Variety Show and reception
are $20, Hayley Sabella are $10, The Sea The Sea are $20;
tickets for the Celebrity Benefit Concert featuring Andrew
Garland and Warren Jones are $40; and $25 for each day of the
Jazz Festival. Tickets for The Stacey Peasley Band are $10
for adults, $8 for children under 12. Advance ticket purchases are recommended,
seating is limited due to capacity. Individual and corporate sponsorships are
also available, benefits include ticketing privileges and more. The Spire is
handicap accessible, public parking is available streetside, and in public lots
in close proximity. For more information, to order tickets online, or to learn
more about The Spire, please visit our website (currently under construction) at
www.spirecenter.org, call (508) 746-4488, or follow Greater Plymouth
Performing Arts Center or Spire Center for Performing Arts on
Facebook.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Spire Center for Performing Arts Premieres Gala Opening Events Series
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